Is it possible to learn triple jumps if I'm starting skating at 14?

[PhiLia]

I'm planning to start skating in May after exams are over, if I have lessons at least twice a week and practice on my own 3 times a week is it possible for me to learn triple jumps?

 

[Anna K.]

First, don't listen what people say! Try how your body feels about it.

Second... No, I don't think it's possible; at least not any time soon. There exist elite figure skaters who started even later than you and land good tripples - Davide Lewton Brain comes to mind but he only started jumping tripples in his mid-twenties as far as I know. So that's about how much time, dedication, and resource it takes.

 

[gkelly]

With that level of commitment (lessons at least twice a week and practice on your own 3 times a week) it would probably take you 1-2 years to start learning double jumps, and then at least that long, with maybe twice the ice time and lesson time, to get all the doubles solid, including double-double combinations and maybe double axel, IF you turn out to be talented at jumping. With average jumping talent, you would probably max out your jump content somewhere at this level.

So you're probably looking at 4-5 years or more before you would be ready to start working on triples if that looks like it would be a possibility for you. And you would need to be able to put in more training time and lesson time to actually master them.

It would be a big commitment. Your goals might change along the way. But if you would enjoy the process, with an ambitious goal in mind that you might or might not be able to achieve, triples could be part of your inspiration for starting the process.

Short answer: Maybe. IF you have the right kinds of physical talent, IF you are able to increase your ice time and lesson time over the years as you move beyond the single jump skill levels, and IF you work regularly with coaches who are particularly good at teaching jump technique and working with older learners.

 

[PhiLia]

With that level of commitment (lessons at least twice a week and practice on your own 3 times a week) it would probably take you 1-2 years to start learning double jumps, and then at least that long, with maybe twice the ice time and lesson time, to get all the doubles solid, including double-double combinations and maybe double axel, IF you turn out to be talented at jumping. With average jumping talent, you would probably max out your jump content somewhere at this level.

So you're probably looking at 4-5 years or more before you would be ready to start working on triples if that looks like it would be a possibility for you. And you would need to be able to put in more training time and lesson time to actually master them.

It would be a big commitment. Your goals might change along the way. But if you would enjoy the process, with an ambitious goal in mind that you might or might not be able to achieve, triples could be part of your inspiration for starting the process.

Short answer: Maybe. IF you have the right kinds of physical talent, IF you are able to increase your ice time and lesson time over the years as you move beyond the single jump skill levels, and IF you work regularly with coaches who are particularly good at teaching jump technique and working with older learners.

my goals are currently to be able to do double jumps, i just wanted to know if it would be possible

 

[Diana Delafield]

my goals are currently to be able to do double jumps, i just wanted to know if it would be possible

In addition to the personal qualifications others have mentioned -- the right body type, natural jumping talent, a realistic attitude, etc, are your parents supportive of your goal? Can they afford a very expensive hobby? You'll need private lessons at a club, not group lessons and practising on your own at a rink's public sessions, transportation to and from the rink on a near-daily basis, and the (very expensive) right boots and blades, replaced every year or so while you're still growing. Is there skating available where you live year round, or will you have to go away to a skating camp in the summer?

Double jump level may be possible by the time you're university age, triples are highly unlikely, ever. But give it a try for a season. You'll understand both the possibilities and the obstacles when you've had a year on the ice. Good luck!

 

[Query]

I met one lady who was doing triple axels (3.5 rotations) after skating 10 months. But she was arguably already a world class athlete - she had danced 20 years in a "National" ballet company, including lead roles. Had already done ballet triple jumps. And was also taking lessons from an Olympic gold medalist. I bet she spent a lot more hours / week than you are talking about.

You didn't mention your athletic background. People like that with a world class athletic background, including roughly equivalent moves, sometimes advance faster than most.

If you want to be one of the top athletes, meaning roughly Olympic level (though many who do triples aren't Olympic level), or even reach the level at which you can make a living at it, only a tiny fraction get there in any sport I know of. The only way that could not be true would be if very few people participate in the sport. And it is possible that spending roughly 20-30 or more hours/week (training, including outside the sport, competing, driving or being driven, medical appointments, etc.) applies to the top athletes in almost any sport.

There are much cheaper sports, even if you have high goals. I'm not sure which - maybe soccer, basketball, volleyball, hiking, climbing, paddling, tiddlywinks, maybe XC skiing, if you live near where those things are done. But even there it helps to have money.

But you can choose more realistic goals. Would you be satisfied doing it for fun and exercise, taking group lessons, and looking more graceful than 90-95% of the people who show up to public sessions? That needn't cost nearly as much time and money. You can also participate at a recreational level at many other sports.

 

[Casey]

I'm planning to start skating in May after exams are over, if I have lessons at least twice a week and practice on my own 3 times a week is it possible for me to learn triple jumps?

Possible, yes. Probably, no. It mostly depends how determined you are...and that doesn't mean as of right now, but even well into a long, grueling adventure, spending tons of money, tons of time, sacrificing other wants, dealing with failures and plateaus and injuries along with all the normal life ups and downs... You may need to skate significantly more hours than you're thinking of, and commit to daily lessons. There's a reason that only a few manage it!

 

[chepe]

There exist elite figure skaters who started even later than you and land good tripples - Davide Lewton Brain comes to mind but he only started jumping tripples in his mid-twenties as far as I know. So that's about how much time, dedication, and resource it takes.

Some time ago I read interview of Tintti Wegelius, Finlands' top female skater in 70s/80s, and she told how she never learned triple jumps reliably. She was only taught double jumps in her teens, as 'triple revolution' in women's skating was only beginning. She attempted to learn triples later, and managed to land salchows and toe loops in training, but never in competition.

 

[CanadianSkaterGuy]

It really depends on the type of athlete you are to begin with and developing your athleticism. Doing triples are about physique, core strength and body awareness (and, to an extent, bravery - a jump harness helps get over that - lol), and of course consistent, repetitive training and how much you dedicate yourself. Putting in the time off ice makes a big diff. Have you skated much before (like, recreationally)? Have you done other sports that involve explosiveness/jumping (volleyball, basketball, gymnastics, etc.).

I did Canskate for years on hockey skates, but only started figure skating around 12 years old... I skated three times a week for 2-3 hours, and got 15 mins of coaching twice a week... not much training (it's $$$) but I did every off-ice training opportunity that I could (thankfully there was free pilates/ballet/plyometrics offered by our club). Eventually, after about 5 years, I got my double axel and some somewhat consistent triples (up to a loop, and even landed a triple lutz once in practice!) but had I not put in the off-ice training there's no way just skating a couple times a week would have been enough. As an adult I'm hoping to work up to a clean triple toe or salchow again (still got my double lutz!), but I would need to develop my core and overall strength as those are critical for doing anything that's a double axel or higher (the fear factor also exponentially increases as you get further into adulthood lol).

As a 14 y/o, you do still have youth on your side but you're gonna have to commit to more than just the on-ice work if you hope to land triples.

 

[Query]

It really depends on the type of athlete you are to begin with and developing your athleticism...

Wow! You must be incredibly athletic to have managed that on 6-9 hours of on-ice training. And incredibly dedicated too, in your off-ice training. Amazing! What an achievement.

From your screen name, you are probably male. The original poster did not mention gender. Most males probably don't start out doing as well as most females, but they can get stronger on average. (OTOH, at least in the U.S., as with some forms of performance dance, there is a lot of peer pressure against figure skating for males.)

Plus, your early Canskate training, even on hockey skates, shouldn't be underestimated in terms of how that affected your ability to learn figure skating at 12.

Money matters more than for many other sports. Several sources claim that "elite" figure skaters spend (or have spent for them) around $100,000/year (in U.S. dollars) on various associated costs. Some a bit more, Not all those who do triples would be considered "elite" - if, say, for example, you are talking about people who go to U.S. Nationals. At least once source says $200,000/year is typical of Olympians. But it wouldn't be surprising to me - though this is just a guess - if most of the others who get to triples (at least in countries like the U.S.) who do triple jumps spend about $25,000-$50,000/year in lessons, ice time, travel, off-ice training, medical visits, equipment, skate sharpening, appropriate clothing, diet, joining skating clubs, organizations & teams, going to competitions and shows, etc. There are exceptions to this. But I suspect that is typical. (BTW I'm counting the full costs of driving - in the U.S., sometimes estimated at about $0.61/mile.) It also requires a lot of time on the part of the figure skater and their parents or guardians. And they pretty much have to live in an area where there are a lot of appropriate ice sessions available, where there are good skate techs available - preferably at an ice rink (and driving several hours each way to and from those techs, maybe every two weeks, is not unusual), and where there are good ice skating coaches available, and good instruction and facilities for off-ice stuff. (Those estimated costs include, for some, moving to such an area, and in some cases being boarded away from home.) And, because of the time spent on their sport, many have to be home schooled, and/or schooled by private tutors.

In many cases, as with most sports, the most serious athletes typically spend a lot of time at it and related activities. Frequently sacrificing academics and social relationships. And most spend some time being recovering from serious injuries. And if they don't "make it", they sometimes have trouble making a living as an adult, or become very lonely, as a result.

Some of them eventually make a living as coaches. But there are a lot of costs associated with becoming and being a coach. For starters, many of them spend a lot of time traveling between home and multiple rinks. And they have to choose to live in an area where there are many rinks available, or one rink with a lot of time available to coach - often rather expensive areas to live in. (Maybe that is less true in Canada?) And they have to compete for students with other coaches. And belong to skating organizations, keep getting re-certified, pay for insurance, dressing in ways that help recruit students. A lot of them also take lessons from higher level coaches too. Etc.

Most of the coaches I have known are only able to work at it part-time, and have other jobs. Some of them just see it as a way to pay for their own skating related costs. (Note however, that this sort of thing is true for coaches and instructors in many, perhaps most sports. As well as sport-like activities like dancing. A tiny fraction make very good livings in sports (and dance), but for most it is more a passion rather than a profession. Passions can be fun. But we all have practical concerns too.)

Of course most skaters with more modest goals can spend a lot less time and money. And still have fun, and get reasonably healthy exercise. It is absolutely a worthwhile thing to do. And it can be a lot of fun. Try it!

 

[CanadianSkaterGuy]

Wow! You must be incredibly athletic to have managed that on 6-9 hours of on-ice training. And incredibly dedicated too, in your off-ice training. Amazing! What an achievement.

From your screen name, you are probably male. The original poster did not mention gender. Most males probably don't start out doing as well as most females, but they can get stronger on average. (OTOH, at least in the U.S., as with some forms of performance dance, there is a lot of peer pressure against figure skating for males.)

Plus, your early Canskate training, even on hockey skates, shouldn't be underestimated in terms of how that affected your ability to learn figure skating at 12.

Money matters more than for many other sports. Several sources claim that "elite" figure skaters spend (or have spent for them) around $100,000/year (in U.S. dollars) on various associated costs. Some a bit more, Not all those who do triples would be considered "elite" - if, say, for example, you are talking about people who go to U.S. Nationals. At least once source says $200,000/year is typical of Olympians. But it wouldn't be surprising to me - though this is just a guess - if most of the others who get to triples (at least in countries like the U.S.) who do triple jumps spend about $25,000-$50,000/year in lessons, ice time, travel, off-ice training, medical visits, equipment, skate sharpening, appropriate clothing, diet, joining skating clubs, organizations & teams, going to competitions and shows, etc. There are exceptions to this. But I suspect that is typical. (BTW I'm counting the full costs of driving - in the U.S., sometimes estimated at about $0.61/mile.) It also requires a lot of time on the part of the figure skater and their parents or guardians. And they pretty much have to live in an area where there are a lot of appropriate ice sessions available, where there are good skate techs available - preferably at an ice rink (and driving several hours each way to and from those techs, maybe every two weeks, is not unusual), and where there are good ice skating coaches available, and good instruction and facilities for off-ice stuff. (Those estimated costs include, for some, moving to such an area, and in some cases being boarded away from home.) And, because of the time spent on their sport, many have to be home schooled, and/or schooled by private tutors.

In many cases, as with most sports, the most serious athletes typically spend a lot of time at it and related activities. Frequently sacrificing academics and social relationships. And most spend some time being recovering from serious injuries. And if they don't "make it", they sometimes have trouble making a living as an adult, or become very lonely, as a result.

Some of them eventually make a living as coaches. But there are a lot of costs associated with becoming and being a coach. For starters, many of them spend a lot of time traveling between home and multiple rinks. And they have to choose to live in an area where there are many rinks available, or one rink with a lot of time available to coach - often rather expensive areas to live in. (Maybe that is less true in Canada?) And they have to compete for students with other coaches. And belong to skating organizations, keep getting re-certified, pay for insurance, dressing in ways that help recruit students. A lot of them also take lessons from higher level coaches too. Etc.

Most of the coaches I have known are only able to work at it part-time, and have other jobs. Some of them just see it as a way to pay for their own skating related costs. (Note however, that this sort of thing is true for coaches and instructors in many, perhaps most sports. As well as sport-like activities like dancing. A tiny fraction make very good livings in sports (and dance), but for most it is more a passion rather than a profession. Passions can be fun. But we all have practical concerns too.)

Of course most skaters with more modest goals can spend a lot less time and money. And still have fun, and get reasonably healthy exercise. It is absolutely a worthwhile thing to do. And it can be a lot of fun. Try it!

Hah thank you. Somewhat athletic, I was pretty good/above average at various sports (never one of the best though) but figure skating was the only one I would say I was truly able to get good at, and that I had any talent and heart for. So yeah I spent as much time off ice training as I did on the ice, and it helped that I had a compassionate but motivational parents/coach. I wasn’t an anomaly though - there were a couple of boys and girls at our club who skated 4-5 days a week for 4-5 hours a day and those who were 2-3 days a week for 2 hours achieving notable levels of success… but it was a good vibe and we were pretty supportive and helped/pushed each other to get harder tricks, always clap at each other’s progress, etc. Which is another thing, it is not something a lot of people can achieve on their own or just a coach and themselves, takes a rink so to speak.

While I spent a lot of time focusing on jumping and was a decent jumper I admittedly wasn’t the most all rounded skater … but that was also 6.0 where spins usually had only basic positions and difficult turns and choreo weren’t really incentivized. Plus the guys at our club tended to care predominantly about jumping and unlocking harder ones. My Skating skills def could have used some work - I remember once my aforementioned coach had me open up my program (to Carmen, lol) with a twizzle and I frequently stumbled on it and she mused that I could do a solid double axel but that damn twizzle was what she held her breath on the most lol.

But I loved the fun and challenge of jumping, so that’s what I happened to get good at. I guess more dedication to training develops that (and if I grew up under IJS) but I still was proud of what I got to do and grateful given the crazy costs and juggling that with school and family responsibilities too. As an adult I spend way more time now doing transitions and exploring more interesting spin positions and footwork stuff I wish I’d spent more time on (also, safer on the body than jumping lol).

So that’s another suggestion for the OP - don’t let the goal be getting the triple, enjoy the journey and be open to becoming a stronger more all-around skater first and foremost.

 

[Ares]

First, don't listen what people say! Try how your body feels about it.

Second... No, I don't think it's possible; at least not any time soon. There exist elite figure skaters who started even later than you and land good tripples - Davide Lewton Brain comes to mind but he only started jumping tripples in his mid-twenties as far as I know. So that's about how much time, dedication, and resource it takes.

Wow, that's very impressive. I've always assumed that all skaters that reach major championships level like Davide began training the latest in their early teens. He must really love this sport.

 

[Anna K.]

Wow, that's very impressive. I've always assumed that all skaters that reach major championships level like Davide did began training the latest in their early teens. He must really love this sport.

Davide reportedly started at 16 so your assumption is not that wrong. And he really loves this sport. You can tell this from his skating.

 

[Ares]

Davide reportedly started at 16 so your assumption is not that wrong. And he really loves this sport. You can tell this from his skating.

I think there's a difference between starting when you're 11 or 12 (like Brezina) and when you're 16.

 

[Silevril Ilumire]

The late great Spencer Lane (rest in peace) started skating in his teens, didn't even skate recreationally before, and two years later was doing triples. He was also working on 3A and quads.

 

[Ic3Rabbit]

The late great Spencer Lane (rest in peace) started skating in his teens, didn't even skate recreationally before, and two years later was doing triples. He was also working on 3A and quads.

And he was a rarity in this sport.

 

[Anna K.]

I think there's a difference between starting when you're 11 or 12 (like Brezina) and when you're 16.

Sure, even a few years make a big difference in this period of growth.
I have seen such examples in ballet - and ballet dancers jump tripples; not all of them, but the top ones do. Ballet dancers typically start training at 10 and it is fully possible to adjust the general flexibility and develop athletically in the course of growth. It is harder for those who start at 12, much harder at 14, and much-much harder at 16.

The late great Spencer Lane (rest in peace) started skating in his teens, didn't even skate recreationally before, and two years later was doing triples. He was also working on 3A and quads.

I would put Spencer Lane in the "transferred from another sport" category. Before, he did aerial silk. It is very physically demanding. And I guess you need no training on harness if you have done this.

 

[Query]

I would put Spencer Lane in the "transferred from another sport" category. Before, he did aerial silk. It is very physically demanding. And I guess you need no training on harness if you have done this.

According to a family source,

www.douglane.com/spencer-skates-part-1

he actually started figure skating at 13 (and had possibly skated some prior to that, depending on how you read that page), and had done playground (acrobatic??) tricks, indoor rock climbing and parkour too.

We know nothing of PhiLa's gender and athletic background. He/she might well have a strong athletic background too.